Forgotten Josh stuck in limbo
THE career of seemingly forgotten veteran Josh Fraser is again on the ropes with the Suns no certainty to recall him into their injury depleted team to play GWS at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
Given the sudden injury crisis that has hit the club, the elevation of Fraser from the ranks of the NEAFL is one option the Suns are expected to look at.
But the 30-year-old former Collingwood ruckman-forward may again miss the boat as the club continues to invest in youth.
Fraser has been in good NEAFL form, kicking goals and leading the ruck well, but age and time may be against him getting one last hurrah in AFL.
McKenna yesterday gave a strong hint Fraser would not be given the nod.
When asked about Fraser’s chances of returning to top grade McKenna said: ‘‘Moving forward for us, it’s probably more a (Tom) Nicholls or a (Tom) Hickey for a ruck spot because of Zac Smith’s injury.’’
‘‘And obviously Danny Stanley and Steven May (for a place in the attack).’’
McKenna refused to rule out the possibility of Fraser returning.
‘‘I’m certainly not saying no to Josh, that’s for sure,’’ McKenna said.
‘‘He has been in good form and done a fantastic job down there leading the big tall rucks and the forwards.’’
The Suns have at least six spots to cover after losing Dion Prestia (hamstring), Karmichael Hunt (shoulder), Luke Russell (shoulder), Smith (ankle), Michael Rischitelli (knee) and Sam Day (broken foot) from the Melbourne loss.
West Australian rookie-list recruit Kyal Horsley appears likely to be promoted, listening to McKenna.
‘‘Kyal has had some time in the sun (the NEAFL) and we’d like to see some more of the young fellows who have been in and out,’’ he said.
That list includes Josh Toye, Hayden Jolly, Jeremy Taylor, Aaron Hall and potentially Jackson Allen, who has yet to taste AFL action in his rookie year after being recruited from Morningside.
‘‘We’re better off having a look at some of these young fellows over the next month,’’ McKenna said.
Meanwhile, young gun Maverick Weller is confident the Suns can crack their Metricon bogy against the Giants.
‘‘Obviously there was some pretty bad stuff to come out of the weekend in the first quarter but there was some really good stuff as well,’’ he said.
‘‘We just have to win the contested footy and tackles and give ourselves the best shot of getting the footy on the outside and kicking some goals.’’